Chapter Four #2
“There you are! I was wondering when you’d— Is this her?” The Dealmaker is greeted with an affectionate hug and a kiss that lingers a little too long for comfort. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the auburn-haired woman is human like me, but—
Before I can finish that thought, she takes my hand in hers, squeezing it tight.
“I know it’s a lot to take in. I was pretty overwhelmed when I got here, too.
But the demon realm isn’t as bad as you might be expecting.
I’m Serenity, by the way,” she says, smiling like we’re old friends catching up after a long absence.
“Ingrid,” I murmur, trying to absorb the demon’s estate as Serenity guides me through enormous gates, past a glowing fountain, and into a garden filled with strange flowers that shine like beacons in the moonlight. “Does that mean you’re—“
“Human?” Serenity finishes for me. “Sure am. But I’m also that grumpy guy’s mate…and wife if you want to get technical, I guess.”
The Dealmaker grumbles, one hand slipping possessively over Serenity’s hip.
“Like you, I found myself in a tough spot and needed to make a deal,” she explains.
I shoot a quick glance to the Dealmaker, my brows rising unintentionally.
“Yeah, I know how it looks,” Serenity laughs, nuzzling her head against the demon’s shoulder, the look in her eyes leaving no doubt how enamored she is with him.
“But things are different here. Don’t let the rough and scary exteriors of these demons fool you; most of them have more humanity than any of the people in my old village. ”
There’s a hardness in her voice when she says that, and the way the Dealmaker’s grip tightens on her makes me wonder what the whole story is there, but right now, I’ve got bigger things to think about. I’m just looking for a distraction from all of…this.
I’ve got no doubt that Serenity is biased about the demon realm considering she decided to settle here, but her reassurance gives me the tiniest bit of hope that I didn’t make the wrong choice signing that contract instead of marrying the Judge.
Once inside, the couple exchange their goodbyes—which includes another lingering kiss, accompanied by a deep, satisfied growl that makes me avert my eyes—and the Dealmaker leaves his wife to the task of getting me settled.
The walk through the Dealmaker’s stately home is an overwhelming blur, but Serenity assures me I won’t be here for long, so there’s no need to try to learn the layout.
Soon, I’m in a guest suite where a drawn bath steams next to an elaborate selection of food.
My stomach growls loud enough to startle us both into nervous giggles.
“Help yourself,” she says. “These are all verified human-safe foods, nothing mood-altering or addictive.”
I stop with a slice of bread halfway to my lips. “Is that…something I need to be concerned about?”
“Not here,” she assures me. “And it would be a breach of contract if the other party didn’t properly protect you from that sort of thing.”
My shoulders relax a fraction, but there’s still a knot in my stomach as I nibble at the crust. My hesitation only lasts until that first taste hits my tongue.
At that point, my greedy stomach overrides any caution I might have, and it’s all I can do to keep crumbs out of the water as I try to get into the bath while simultaneously stuffing my face.
“I don’t know what stories exist in your land about demons and their kind, but the tales were not charitable in my village.
This world is not as frightening as you might expect.
It is full of incredible creatures and impossible landscapes.
I have only seen a fraction of it, and I hope to spend the rest of my immortal life discovering its wonders. ”
I stop scrubbing at a stubborn spot of dirt to frown at her. “Immortal…?” I echo.
“One of the perks of mating a demon,” she says, pulling back her sleeve enough to show the bright blue marking that encircles her wrist—the same color as the Dealmaker’s markings.
”You don’t need to worry about that, though.
The only thing I’d recommend is to remember that you are in their realm now, not yours.
You might find that things are done very differently here than what you’re used to.
What might be scandalous in your village could be the norm here; what might be courtesy in your world could be an insult here.
Keep an open mind, and you may be pleasantly surprised by your experience here. ”
“I’ve already signed the contract,” I say, teasing a little. “You don’t have to convince me anymore.”
Serenity’s face flushes a shade of red only a few shades lighter than her hair. “Sorry, I can be…a lot,” she says, the enthusiasm draining from her voice.
“Don’t be sorry. I’m glad to know I’m not the only human in this world. I don’t know what I’m going into, so I appreciate the welcome.”
Serenity’s face splits into a smile so bright that I can’t help being infected with it too. “Wait until you see your dress.”
Serenity’s smile doesn’t falter for a moment the whole time she’s helping me into the foreign garment, adjusting the bits and bobs, and arranging my hair into a mess of braids held up with jeweled combs and pins.
Jewels in my hair would be enough to raise my suspicions, but that would’ve required me to tear my focus from the dress.
Serenity certainly hadn’t been exaggerating when she told me how beautiful the gown was, but I still haven’t figured out why it’s on me. It’s not the simple cut of a housemaid’s garb, nor is it the rough wool I’m used to. It’s too fine, too soft, too…much.
Layers of gossamer fabric form the shape of a bodice that molds to my shape so well I can hardly feel it.
The material is an odd, unplaceable color—a dusky purple at one angle, dark slate gray at another, and I even catch sheens of blue and gold.
Sparkling beadwork leaves no part of the magnificent gown unadorned, catching the light like morning frost with every breath I take.
It must have taken a whole team of dressmakers weeks to hand-stitch the swirling starburst patterns, and there’s no way that sort of labor came without a high price.
And how the gown fits me so well—the bodice boned and cinched to perfection—is another layer to the mystery.
Even the cape—because of course there’s a matching cape to go with this elaborate design—falls like starlight spun into silk, sheer and shimmering, speckled with glass beads that shine like they’re lit from within.
“Quite the get-up for a scullery maid,” I say, simultaneously struggling to look at my reflection and unable to tear my eyes away.
Serenity’s forehead wrinkles with a frown. “You’re not going to—”
The door from the attached room bursts open, and the Dealmaker enters in a whirlwind of energy.
“I’m afraid time’s gotten away from us,” he says to Serenity, his wolfish tail flicking behind him.
“Already?” she asks, her frown deepening. “Aren’t there some things you’ve yet to explain?”
“I was just wondering what sort of role would require…this,” I say, only looking at the demon through the mirror, my gaze still fastened to the glittering gown.
Maybe if I had my wits about me, I’d be able to tell if there’s something magically entrancing about the garment, or if I’m truly so simple to be left speechless by a bit of luxury.
As it is, everything around me feels magical and dumbfounding, from the impossible number of stars above to the silk slippers Serenity’s helping me step into—the same shifting indigo-gold as the gown with delicate beaded leaves far too beautiful to be hidden under my skirts.
“This is hardly everyday attire,” Anumar chuckles; alone.
His tail swishes again, and I sense an unspoken conversation happening between the mated couple.
“Come along, I’ll explain as we walk.” He doesn’t wait to make sure either of us follow, leading the way with the utmost confidence that we will.
We do. I have to scramble to catch up with his long strides and only catch the end of his sentence.
“—seal your contract. At The Presentation, you’ll meet with the demon you’ve been matched with, Xandril; it’s also a chance to build rapport with the local community.
Many of them have never seen a human in their lives—”
“Or only one,” Serenity chimes in with a cheeky smile.
Anumar chuckles, slowing down enough to slide his arm around her back, matching his strides to hers. They seem so effortlessly in sync in a way I didn’t know married couples could be.
There’s another extended silence that feels like a conversation I’m not privy to, when we finally reach the estate’s doors, stepping out into the glow of the fountain.
“Just remember that your contract only lasts until spring,” Serenity says, holding one of my hands in both of hers before she loses the inner battle and pulls me into a hug.
“Winter doesn’t last forever,” she says, soft and close enough that I’m sure her mate doesn’t hear it over the fountain’s burbling.
I probably should be more concerned about that warning than I am.
I’m not foolish enough to think I’m being whisked into a fairytale and made into a princess, but it’s hard to deny that this is a far cry better than anything that awaited me with the Judge.
No matter what Serenity thinks she needs to prepare me for, the promise of a fancy party has a stubborn bubble of excitement rising in me.
No one in my village, not even the Lord and Lady who took in a pair of orphaned siblings, is wealthy enough to be invited to the grand parties in the cities—not even the more modest fetes in the neighboring villages.
Which means as incredible as this is, I don’t know the first thing about etiquette. In this world or any other. What if I embarrass myself or the Dealmaker? What if the demon I’m matched with rejects me outright when they see how out of place I am?
While the rapidly multiplying doubts wrestle to pop that bubble of excitement, Serenity and Anumar are sharing a farewell kiss.
Before I can ask what will happen to me if I’m immediately dismissed upon arrival, a misty blue fog grows around our ankles, quickly turning into a swirling cloud that blocks out the stars above and pulls the ground out from under me.